Religious identity is an
interesting topic. While it may play an
important role in some individual’s lives, it might be on the back burner for
others. A person can feel very close
with their religious group, while others have less of a sense of belonging. Buddhism, specifically, can fit on both ends
of the spectrum depending on an individual’s level of commitment to the
practice. Practiced by over 300 million
people worldwide, this religion experiences some different forms of religious
identity (White 1993).
Some opt to say
they are Buddhists, while others feel that it doesn’t make sense with the
Buddhist doctrines to do so. Furthermore,
some consider Buddhism a religion, while others believe it to be a philosophy
and practice the teachings.
What sets
Buddhism apart from other religions is that a person can be considered a
Buddhist while simultaneously staying affiliated with another religion as
well. Buddhism is technically seen as a
philosophy by some, a way of life, rather than a religion. Many practice Buddhism without identifying as
a Buddhist, and this is acceptable (O’Brien 2012). The interesting point is that Buddhism
welcomes other religions and acknowledges their existence.
Not only
can Buddhism be considered both a religion and a philosophy, but it also can
differ among locations as well. Different
“schools of Buddhism [are] unlike one another” (Diskul 2010). The identity of a Buddhist could differ based
on location as well. Southeast Asian
Buddhists, for example, are harder to connect with thoughtfully and spiritually
over western Buddhists.
Interestingly
enough, though, many regularly practicing Buddhists don’t personally outright
identify themselves as Buddhists. This
is because the Buddhist doctrine, anatta, points out that there is no true
“self” (O’Brien 2012). Therefore, it
would be impossible to identify oneself
as a Buddhist. Instead, the man is
dynamic, and ever-changing (Diskul 2010).
These specific people feel that the “self” and “identity” are
constraining.
Overall, Buddhists
are encouraged to test the teachings themselves. They must make their own decisions and get
out of the teachings what they want (White 1993).
In terms of
data collectors, I have made a contact with Courtney Bruntz, an instructor at
UNL’s Department of Classics and Religious Studies. I have made a plan with Courtney to visit a
Vietnamese Buddhist Temple on November 3rd. There, we will experience a service and
attend a luncheon shortly after. I also
plan to talk to some of Courtney’s Buddhist pupils that will be attending the
service as well.
I plan to
interview Courtney the week after I experience the service, once I’ve gathered
my thoughts. In terms of questions, I’ll
ask Courtney about Buddhists and how far they go to identify themselves. I was given a very broad answer when
researching on my own. I also want to
look into the way Buddhism has modernized as it has gradually moved west, and
why it is so appealing for more and more to become part of Buddhism as
well. It’s a very wide-ranged religion,
and I plan to narrow it down in terms of understanding the basic philosophies
and beliefs. I would also like to dicuss
how Buddhists interact amongst each other, if that is even an option.
Diskul, P. P. (2010).
The relevance of Buddhism in the modern world. Buddhism
Publication Society. Retrieved from http://www.bps.lk/olib/bl/bl043-u.html
O’Brien, B. (2012). Can
you be a Buddhist and a (fill in the blank)?
About Religion and
Spirituality. Retrieved from http://buddhism.about.com/b/2012/03/14/can-you-be-a-buddhist-and-a-fill-in-the-blank.htm
White, B.
(1993). A basic Buddhism
guide. Buddha Dharma Education Association and BuddhaNet. Retrieved from http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm
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